Help Help Help

[mishabella]

Hi Everyone, :beer:

I have just brewed my first beer last night, I am brewing a beer that says the ideal temperature for it to sit at is 13C.

My brew is sitting at 22C, I think, the thermometer is a stick on one, and it seems to always have three different temps lit up, and at the moment it is highlighted 22, 24, & 26, but the 22 is the brightest, so I assume that is the temp am I right????

So can someone help me on how these thermometers work, and how to cool my brew down? I have the brew sitting in my wardrobe, is that a good place, and what should I use ice packs or something to cool it.

Please Please Help

 

[PostModern]

If three temps are visible, the middle one is the one you read, so it sounds like you have a fermenter at 24.

Cool it down by surrounding it in ice packs, sticking it in fridge.... make cold around it.

 

[Whistlingjack]

Yes, into the bathtub with plenty of iced water...

 

[DarkFaerytale]

if you can try putting your fermenter in the laundry sink (or other large sink/bathtub that doesn't get used often) fill the sink with water and rotate 4 large bottles (eg. 2 ltr coke bottles) of frozen water 2 at a time about 3 or 4 times a day, works a treat for me as i have no fridge big enough to hold a fermenter

 

[Tyred]

Have a read of the FAQ http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...9233&hl=FAQ

It has some suggestions as to keeping your fermenter cool.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

I fear that it could be a bit to late to save your brew....anything above 18-19* for most yeasts will have negative effects...especially for a lagar yeast

 

[mishabella]

Thanks for everyones's responses, have stuck it into laundry tub.

In my instructions it says that if the temp sits high it will just turn out more like a Ale rather than a Lager, didn't say anything about ruining it, I hope that is right.

My brew kind of smells like rotten eggs, is this normal, or is it infected and ruined.

 

[newguy]

Thanks for everyones's responses, have stuck it into laundry tub.

In my instructions it says that if the temp sits high it will just turn out more like a Ale rather than a Lager, didn't say anything about ruining it, I hope that is right.

My brew kind of smells like rotten eggs, is this normal, or is it infected and ruined.

Some yeast varieties will produce a lot of sulphur early in fermentation, particularly lager yeasts. It should dissipate all on its own.

 

[Gough]

Hi Mishabella,

Congrats on having a go at your first brew. Relax, a 22- 24 degree ferment will NOT have totally ruined it. If it was a true lager yeast you have used then it would have been better fermented quite a bit cooler as everyone is suggesting. However at 22-24 the beer will be a bit fruitier than you may have planned, but still perfectly drinkable unless something else has gone wrong along the line. And hey, now you'll know to keep it a little cooler next time I bet you enjoy your first brew and I'll bet you'll already be planning the things you'll improve next time. Best of luck with it.

Shawn.

 

[mishabella]

Hi Mishabella,

Congrats on having a go at your first brew. Relax, a 22- 24 degree ferment will NOT have totally ruined it. If it was a true lager yeast you have used then it would have been better fermented quite a bit cooler as everyone is suggesting. However at 22-24 the beer will be a bit fruitier than you may have planned, but still perfectly drinkable unless something else has gone wrong along the line. And hey, now you'll know to keep it a little cooler next time I bet you enjoy your first brew and I'll bet you'll already be planning the things you'll improve next time. Best of luck with it.

Shawn.

Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your reassurance, very scary doing your first brew.
I thought that my wardrobe would have been cool enough for the brew but obviously been proven wrong.
It said that once it reached 22C to put the yeast in, than sit it at 13C, I thought it would have eventually dropped to that level, but didn't. As you said next time round I will have more of an odea of what to do.

Cheers

 

[Weizguy]

Dear Mishmash :lol: ,

You might think about buying a 100 can cooler and using it as a fermentation insulator. Plenty of info around this forum if you search. Would have added a link, but I have to do stuff (like house-cleaning) now.

Good to see you do a lager as a first brew. Quite a challenge.
Best of luck.

Beerz
Seth

 

[dante]

I have a related question. I started my first brew today. I bought the Coopers kit with the Larger mix.
The instructions say to keep it between 18 and 27 degs and an ideal temp of 22, but from what I've read on this forum, a larger should be fermented at a lower temp, like the 13 degs mentioned here.

Can anyone tell me why this kit says 22 degrees?

 

[Doogiechap]

Even thought the tin of extract is a 'Lager' the yeast will be an ale yeast. This is so the average 1st timer can achieve a reasonable tasting beer with minimal equipment.
Cheers
Doug

 

[dante]

Even thought the tin of extract is a 'Lager' the yeast will be an ale yeast. This is so the average 1st timer can achieve a reasonable tasting beer with minimal equipment.
Cheers
Doug

Thanks for the clarification. :beer:

 

[Voosher]

I have a related question. I started my first brew today. I bought the Coopers kit with the Larger mix.
The instructions say to keep it between 18 and 27 degs and an ideal temp of 22, but from what I've read on this forum, a larger should be fermented at a lower temp, like the 13 degs mentioned here.

Can anyone tell me why this kit says 22 degrees?

If you can keep it lower than 22C. You'll get a cleaner ferment at 18-20C.
And please keep it well away from 27C. About the only reason kits mention such ridiculously high temps as "within range" is to avoid scaring off homebrewers who can't keep temps down during summer.

 

[dante]

If you can keep it lower than 22C. You'll get a cleaner ferment at 18-20C.
And please keep it well away from 27C. About the only reason kits mention such ridiculously high temps as "within range" is to avoid scaring off homebrewers who can't keep temps down during summer.

Cool. It's sitting on 20-22 at the moment, as in both the 20 and 22 are "illuminated" on the stickon thermometer.